The organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced on Friday that member broadcasters will vote in November to decide if Israel can participate in the event next year amid growing calls for the country’s exclusion due to the conflict in Gaza.
A spokesperson, Dave Goodman, revealed that the European Broadcasting Union board has informed members about an upcoming vote during an extraordinary general meeting scheduled for early November. The vote will determine whether Kan, the Israeli public broadcaster and an EBU member, will be allowed to take part. An “absolute majority” is needed for any decision to exclude Israel.
Several countries, including Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, have threatened to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is not excluded due to the situation in Gaza. On the contrary, Germany and Austria have expressed support for Israel’s participation. The BBC and other national broadcasters are yet to make a final decision on the matter.
In response, Kan expressed hope that the contest will maintain its cultural and apolitical essence. Eurovision is a prestigious music competition where artists from Europe and beyond compete under their national flags for the title of continental champion, showcasing a mix of musical talents and cultural diversity.
Historically, Eurovision has been a platform where political tensions and regional conflicts occasionally surface. In a previous instance, Israel had to change the lyrics and title of its entry in reference to a past conflict. Protests from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have also been witnessed at the contest in recent years.
The upcoming vote on Israel’s participation is seen as a significant challenge for Eurovision and has the potential to deepen divisions within the organization, according to Eurovision expert Dean Vuletic. Past exclusions from the contest, such as the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s and Belarus in 2021, illustrate how political events can impact participation in the competition.
Meanwhile, Austria’s Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has expressed concern over potential boycotts of the 2026 event in her country, emphasizing that the Eurovision Song Contest should not be used as a tool for imposing sanctions. She has called for collective efforts to address the situation in Israel and Gaza. The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest is set to take place in May in Vienna, following Austria’s victory in the previous year’s event held in Basel, Switzerland.